Minos Reviews
There's a satisfying strategy to Minos, as you lay out your maze, set your traps, and lie in wait for foolhardy adventuring parties. It's not as endlessly compelling as the best roguelikes, but you can easily lose hours within the labyrinth.
Minos reminded me of playing one of those wooden ball-in-a-labyrinth toys, where you tilt the maze just so to guide the ball to the end. In this case, gravity is replaced by scores of devious traps, and the goal is to stop the progress of enemies before they can defeat the Minotaur. Minos brings a lot of interesting ideas to the tower defense genre. If you have patience for increasingly challenging puzzles and a bit of jank, Minos can be a lot of fun.
Minos is another excellent and entertaining gameplay-focused experience from the underrated developer Artificer. Crafting deadly labyrinths to make waves upon waves of human meat victims feels truly devious, thanks to the diverse set of traps and creative building abilities you can experiment with. Though I don’t quite think every piece of the pie works, it’s a winning formula in the form of a well-designed roguelike experience that I can’t exactly turn my nose up at either. Besides, how many other games let you feel like your own ancient Greek version of Jigsaw, crafting mazes and escape room hellscapes of death and torture? Not bloody many.
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Of course, Minos’ fans – and the game deserves to have a lot of them – will tell you the plot isn’t important. What is important is its creative sandbox and gleefully gory approach to what is essentially a tower defence game. And on that I would agree with them. Minos is really difficult to put down once you start finding yourself daydreaming about new ways to combine your trap arsenal together.
MINOS lets you construct your own perfect Heath Robinson/Rube Goldberg murder machine.
Minos is a unique take on the tower defense genre, standing out for its creative approach, well-paced progression, and the satisfying experience of designing effective traps. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it does breathe new life into it enough to keep you hooked for hours on end, and the roguelite elements are a great fit.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Minos has that certain something that keeps you wanting to tackle one more maze. You’re either eager to learn more about Asterion and Daedalus, or to discover what new weapons might help you defeat the enemies. The depth isn’t limitless, but it’s up to you to find the best combinations to keep the fun going. It’s surprising to see how Devolver Digital always manages to unearth hidden gems among developers. Artificer and its game Minos are now part of the lineup.
Review in French | Read full review
MINOS is a valued toolbox of devious joy and wracking despair that’s pretty easy to look at, play with, and understand even as it gets more complicated and complex. Ultimately, you’re in control, for better or worse, and any game that gives you this level of freedom and personal expression is one that should be pedestaled like a bronzed Greek god for all to see. Give in to your darker side and see what its walls reveal to you.
MINOS is a masterclass in genre-blending. Artificer has successfully combined the strategic foresight of a puzzle game with the chaotic, trap-springing joy of a classic tower defense, all wrapped in a highly addictive roguelite shell. While the UI needs a few quality-of-life updates to improve visual clarity, and the Dismantler enemies can feel a bit cheap when the RNG turns against you, the core foundation here is exceptionally strong. If you have ever wanted to play the villain and design the ultimate dungeon of doom, MINOS is easily one of the best strategy games of 2026.
Minos is one labyrinth of a strategy title you won't mind getting lost in; assuming that's your cup of Greek tea, of course. [...] It's a thinking man's roguelite, for better or worse, and your mileage may vary.
Minos delivers a grimly stylish hybrid of maze-building and tower defense that thrives on its tragic Greek atmosphere. While Asterion’s direct combat feels thin and the roguelite grind can become tedious, the tactical depth of its trap synergy offers a rewarding, if occasionally inconsistent, descent into the Labyrinth.
MINOS is an interesting mix of ideas that don't always work well together, but are still interesting. The appeal lies in how players can adapt and shape the battle. Constructing a maze, observing foes fall prey to your traps, and then refining your strategy as the game progresses is genuinely enjoyable.
Minos is an atypical roguelite that blends dungeon building, puzzles, and real-time strategy. The game reimagines the myth of the Minotaur, placing players in the shoes of the title's bull-human hybrid monster, and having them design defensive labyrinths against hordes of invaders.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Minos builds an interesting foundation by reversing the traditional role and turning the labyrinth into an active defensive tool. The combination of planning, traps, and direct intervention with the Minotaur creates tense and rewarding moments, especially when strategies begin to flow naturally, while the challenging campaign and steady progression help maintain engagement despite frequent defeats. However, repetition and limited content variety become more noticeable over time, with a lack of trap diversity, predictable level structure, and some visual clarity issues weakening the pacing and diminishing the impact of its strongest ideas. In the end, Minos presents strong and intriguing concepts, but still needs more diversity and refinement to sustain its long-term potential.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review